Mail-carrier&#39;s cart.



' No. 849,660. PATEN'TED APR. 9. 1907.

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MAIL CARRIBRS CART.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23, 1906.

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Witnesses Inventor.

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Attorneys No. 849,660. PATENTBD APR. 9, 1907. w. 0. OOVBY.

MAIL GARRIERS CART.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23.1906.

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Witnesses a lnventor, I v

W Attorneys No. 849,660. I PATENTBD APR. 9, 1907.

W. O. GOVEY.

MAIL UARRIER'S.GART.

APPLIUATION FILED 14x23. 190s.

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WITNESSES: v {AWE/Wok,

By 1 I I THE NORRIS PETERS CO WASHINGTON D C A TTORNE 1 5 UNIE . WILLIAM O. COVEY, OF APPLETON CITY, MISSOURI.

MAIL-CARRIERS CART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

Application filed January 23, 1906. Serial No. 297,490-

To all wit/0171 it TIMI/Z] concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 0. (lover, a citizen of the United States, residing at Appleton City, in the county of St. Clalr and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Mail-Carriers Cart, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carts or vehicles adapted especially for use of mail-carriers upon rural routes; and the objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of the running-gear and to present a device of this class which shall be light, easy-running, free from horse motion, and able to withstand the rough usage to which vehicles of this class are fre quently subjected.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the lnvention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which Will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations, and modifications within the scope of the invention may be made when desired In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail-carriers cart constructed in accordance with the principles of the inven tion. Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the axle being cut in section and the wheels removed. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the running-gear, showing a modified construction.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The axle A is of that variety which includes a drop-arch 1, the side members of which, 2 2, have lateral extensions 3 3, forming spindles upon which the wheels 4 are supported for rotation. Securely connected with the members 3 3 adjacent to the side members 2 2 of the arch are thill members 4 4, which are in the nature of stubs, the front ends of which are connected by a cross-bar 5 and provided with notches or recesses 6, af-

fording seats for the rear ends of the thills proper, 7. This construction is preferably resorted to when the vehicle is to be used in connection with shafts and a tongue interchangeably, inasmuch as by simply removing the thills a cross-bar carrying a tongue may be substituted in the place thereof. This, however, has not been illustrated, inasmuch as such substitution is well known in the art.

Each thill is provided with a backstay 8, cooperating therewith to support a rearward extension-bar 9, which is bolted upon the thill-stub and upon said backstay. The latter, which is bolted upon the rear side of the downwardly-extending terminal of the stub, terminates in a threaded )ortion which constitutes one of the clip-bolts 10, whereby the stub is connected with the axle. The clipplate 11 is formed at the rear end of a bracerod 12, which extends forwardly and is bolted upon the under side of the thill-s tub in rear of the cross-bar 5, said brace being also provided with a forwardly-extending loop 13, engaging and supporting the under side of the cross-bar 5.

The vehicle box or body 14 is supported at its front and rear ends upon arched springs 15 and 16, the ends of which latter are connected, by means of links 17, with strong coiled or helical springs 18, which are suspended, as by means of hooks 19, from the rear ends of the extension-bars 9.

Firmly bolted upon the under sides of the thill-stubs 4 are leaf-springs 20, the front ends of which are connected, by means of twisted links 21, with the ends of the arched spring 15, that supports the front part of the vehicle-body which is thereby suspended. The bolster-block 22, which is secured upon the under side of the front portion of the vehicle-body and which forms a seat for the spring 15, is connected by a hook-braee 23 with a clip-plate 24 upon the axle-arch for the purpose of limiting the tendency of the vehicle-body to swing or vibrate.

Braces, as 2 1, are preferably employed for the purpose of connecting the axle with the thill-stubs in order to strengthen and reinforce the latter.

Under the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the axle is provided with bearings for a rock-shaft 25, having terminal cranks 26, which are conc the front spring 15.

nected, by means of links 27, with the ends of Bolted or otherwise secured upon the extension-bar 9 of the thillstub at one side of the running-gear is a quadrant 28, upon which is pivoted a bell-crank lever L, one arm of which is extended to form a handle 29, provided with a stop mem ber 30, adapted to engage the quadrant for the purpose of retaining the lever at various adjustments. The other arm 31 of the bellcrank is connected by a link 32 with one of the cranks 26 of the rock-shaft 25, which latter may thus be oscillated in its bearings. l/Vhen the mechanism just described is used, the brace 23 is dispensed with, since by this mechanism, which acts as a brace, the vehicle box or body may be secured against vibration. By the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, however, the box or body is capable of being swayed or moved in a forward or rearward direction, as'may be desired, and of being secured in various positions with relation to the axle. The vehicle may thus be accurately balanced, and the load may be taken off the neck of the draft-animal while going down long grades or when standing at a rack, thus relieving, the animal of unnecessary strain and making the vehicle easier riding.

This improved running-gear, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is extremely simple, and it may be manufactured at a moderate expense. The vehicle-body will be supported thereby in such a manner as to be capable of yielding freely to the movement of the springs, the motion, even in traversing rough roads, being noticeably light and free from jolting and horse motion. This latter feature is especially desirable in view of the fact that long distances frequently have to he traveled over by the occupant of the vehicle, who will thus be relieved of a very objectionable sensationwhich usually accompanies the use' of two-wheeled vehicles.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A wheel-supported axle, thill-stubs connected therewith, backstays extending rearwardly from said stubs, and extension-bars supported at their front ends upon said stubs and'at their rear ends upon the backstays.

2. A wheel-supported axle, thill-stubs connected therewith, backstays connected with and extending rearwardly from the stubs, extension-bars supported upon the stubs and backstays, a vehicle body, and suspension means connecting said body with the thillstubs and the extension-bars.

3. A wheel-supported axle, thill-stubs connected therewith, bars extendingrearwardly from the thill-stubs, a vehicle-body, and susension means connecting said body with the thill-stubs and the extension-bars, said means comprising. parallel leaf-springs and devicescoimecting the ends thereof with the stubs and bars.

saaeeo 4. A dro -arch axle, thill-stubs connected therewith, eaf-springs connected with the stubs, bars extending rearwardly from the latter, helical springs suspended from the extension-bars, and a vehicle-body connected at its rear end with the helical springs and at its front end with the springs upon the thillstubs.

5. A drop-arch axle, thill members connected therewith, bars extending rearwardly from the thill members, leaf-springs secured upon the under sides of the latter, helical springs suspended fromthe extension-bars, a vehicle-body provided with arched. springs at its front and rear ends, links connecting. the ends of the rearspring with the helical springs, and twisted links connecting the ends of the front spring with the springs upon the under sides of the thill members.

6. In a vehicle of the class described, a drop-arch axle, thill members connected therewith, backstays extending rearwardly from the thill members, extension-bars supported upon the thill members and backstays, springs connected with the thill members and the extension-bars, a vehicle-body having supporting-springs, and suspending means connecting the latter springs with the springs upon the thill members and the extension-bars.

7. A drop-arch axle, thill members connected therewith and having rearward extension-bars, a vehicle-body, springs and suspension means connecting said vehiclebody with the thill members and the exten= sion-bars, and a hook-brace connecting the vehicle-body with the axle.

8. A drop-arch axle having laterally-ex.- tending spindle members, thill-stubs: con nected with said spindle members, and reinforcing-braces connecting the thill-stubs with the arched portion of the axle.

9. A drop-arch axle, a vehicle-body suse pended above the axle, and bracemeans connecting the suspending means with the axle said means including. a device for changing the position of the body with relation to the axe 10. A drop-arch axle, a vehicle-body suspended above the axle, and means connecting the suspending means adjustably with the axle to regulate the position of the body with relation to the axle.

11. A drop-arch axle, a vehicle-body sus pended above the axle, a rock-shaft-supported upon the axle and having. cranks, links connecting the cranks with the suspending means, and means for adjusting. the rockshaft and for retaining it at various adjustments.

12. A drop-arch axle, thills connected therewith and having rearward extensionbars, a vehiclebody, suspending means connecting. the body with the thills and the extension-bars, a rock-shaft j ournaled upon the ICC axle and having cranks, links connecting the my own I have hereto affixed my signature cranks W1th the suspendmg means, an adin the presence of two Witnesses.

justin -lever, a link connectin said lever w 7 With o ne of the cranks upon n13 rock-shaft, it VILLIAM LOVEVI' 5 and means for securing the lever at various 1 Vitnesses:

adjustments. I W. H. SAGESER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as JOHN COVEY. 

